Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Gorilla
Leaving Home
All gorilla teens leave home. That's different from monkeys, other apes and humans. Gorilla daughters join other groups. Sons usually live alone, sometimes for years, until they can attract females and make their own group.
Are they really like me?
Unlike western lowland gorillas, almost half the mountain gorilla groups have two or more "silverbacks".
Gorilla females breed at 9 years old. Males wait until their 20s.
Eastern male mountain gorilla males sometimes form bachelor groups. Our Zoo has formed a western lowland gorilla bachelor group.
Where do they live?
Central and Western Africa
Losing families-losing species
Cell phones contain minerals found in gorilla habitat. In one year, miners killed and ate 80% of the world's eastern lowland gorillas.
Erected by St. Louis Zoo.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Anthropology & Archaeology • Environment • Industry & Commerce.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 38° 38.143′ N, 90° 17.31′ W. Marker was in St. Louis,
this page online
Regionally, this marker was in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Our Endangered Gorrillas (here, next to this marker); A Century of Free Flight (within shouting distance of this marker); Nest of the Bald Eagle (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Loss of Land and Beauty (about 300 feet away); Bringing Back the Beauty (about 300 feet away); Watch Our Conservation Efforts Grow! (about 300 feet away); Tale of the Swamp Rabbit (about 400 feet
Other markers no longer nearby. Two Species - One Fate (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing); Threats and Solutions (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Giant of the Swamp (was about 400 feet away but has been confirmed missing).
Photographed by Garrett Koch, April 7, 2025
3. Gorilla Marker
MISSING MARKER! Like all of the markers in the Jungle of the Apes section, this marker has been removed from the site pictured. It is not known if it was moved elsewhere but a tour through the whole section revealed 4 markers that are nowhere in public sight.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 237 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 27, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on June 2, 2026, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri.
